Relation between soil organic matter and yield levels of nonlegume crops in organic and conventional farming systems |
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Authors: | Christopher Brock Andreas Fließbach Hans‐Rudolf Oberholzer Franz Schulz Klaus Wiesinger Frank Reinicke Wernfried Koch Bernhard Pallutt Bärbel Dittman Jörg Zimmer Kurt‐Jürgen Hülsbergen Günter Leithold |
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Affiliation: | 1. Justus‐Liebig‐Universit?t Gie?en, Professur für Organischen Landbau, Karl‐Gl?ckner‐Stra?e 21c, 35394 Gie?en, Germany;2. Forschungsinstitut für Biologischen Landbau (FIBL), Ackerstra?e, 5070 Frick, Switzerland;3. Forschungsanstalt Agroscope Reckenholz‐T?nikon ART, Reckenholzstra?e 191, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland;4. Justus‐Liebig‐Universit?t Gie?en, Professur für Organischen Landbau, Lehr‐ und Versuchsbetrieb Gladbacherhof, 65606 Villmar, Germany;5. Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft, Institut für Agrar?kologie, ?kologischen Landbau und Bodenschutz, Lange Point 12, 85354 Freising, Germany;6. Martin‐Luther‐Universit?t Halle‐Wittenberg, Professur für Allgemeinen Pflanzenbau / ?kologischen Landbau, Betty‐Heimann‐Stra?e 5, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany;7. Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Gartenbau Sachsen‐Anhalt, Zentrum für Acker‐ und Pflanzenbau, Strenzfelder Allee 22, 06406 Bernburg, Germany;8. Julius‐Kühn‐Institut, Institut für Integrierten Pflanzenschutz, Stahnsdorfer Damm 81, 14532 Kleinmachnow, Germany;9. Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz, Landwirtschaft und Flurneuordnung, Referat Ackerbau und Grünland, Stahnsdorfer Damm 1, 14532 Stahnsdorf, Germany;10. Technische Universit?t München, Lehrstuhl für ?kologischen Landbau, Alte Akademie 12, 85354 Freising, Germany |
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Abstract: | The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between yield levels of nonleguminous crops and soil organic matter (SOM) under the specific conditions of organic and conventional farming, respectively, and to identify implications for SOM management in arable farming considering the farming system (organic vs. conventional). For that purpose, correlations between yield levels of nonlegume crops and actual SOM level (Corg, Nt, Chwe, Nhwe) as well as SOM‐level development were examined including primary data from selected treatments of seven long‐term field experiments in Germany and Switzerland. Yield levels of nonlegume crops were positively correlated with SOM levels, but the correlation was significant only under conditions of organic farming, and not with conventional farming treatments. While absolute SOM levels had a positive impact on yield levels of nonlegumes, the yield levels of nonlegumes and SOM‐level development over time correlated negatively. Due to an increased demand of N from SOM mineralization, higher yield levels of nonlegumes obviously indicate an increased demand for OM supply to maintain SOM levels. Since this observation is highly significant for farming without mineral‐N fertilization but not for farming with such fertilization, we conclude that the demand of SOM‐level maintenance or enhancement and thus adequate SOM management is highly relevant for crop production in organic farming both from an agronomical and ecological point of view. Under conventional management, the agronomic relevance of SOM with regard to nutrient supply is much lower than under organic management. However, it has to be considered that we excluded other possible benefits of SOM in our survey that may be highly relevant for conventional farming as well. |
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Keywords: | soil organic matter crop yield management impact soil services |
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